"What does anybody want except to be happy?" she continued, in the
same strain of resentment. "Isn't that what all are trying for as
hard as they can? I'd like to go out in the street and stop people
as they came along and ask them, the one after the other: 'Would
you tell me if you are happy?' And the one that said 'yes' I'd
give a hundred dollars to!"

"As like as not it would be some shabby fellow with no overcoat,"
said Frank.

"Now you can go away!" she exclaimed suddenly. "I don't know
what's the matter with me, Frank. I think I'm going to cry! Go,
go!" she cried imperiously, as he still stood there.

Frank bowed and obeyed, and his last glimpse, as he closed the
door, was of her at the window, looking down disconsolately into
the street below.

III

Spring was well begun when the Minnehaha sailed for Europe to take
her place in the mimic fleets that were already assembling. As
like seeks like, so the long, swift white steamer headed like a
bird for her faraway companions, and arrived amongst them with
colours flying, and her guns roaring out salutes. By herself she
was greedy for every pound of steam and raced her engines as
though speed were a matter of life and death; but, once in
company, she was content to lag with the slowest, and suit her own
pace to the stately progress of the schooners and cutters that